System and method for personalized and customized time management

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a method and system for organizing and planning various categories of events, tasks and long-term goals. The method generally includes the steps of providing at least one data module for generating data for a specific topic area of events and tasks; prompting a user to provide data based on the specific topic area of the one data module; categorizing the data inputted by the user into appointment data and task data; inputting the appointment data into a calendar framework; inputting the task data into a task list framework; and generating an output calendar and task list based on the calendar and task list frameworks. The system incorporates at least one data module for generating data for a specific category of events and tasks, means for inputting data from a user, means for processing the data inputted from the user for the data module, and means for generating an output calendar and task list. The data module includes means for prompting a user to provide data based on the specific category of events and tasks to which the data module is directed. The processing means includes means for categorizing the data inputted by the user into appointment data and task data, means for inputting the appointment data into a calendar framework, and means for inputting the task data into a task list framework.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/405,964, filed Mar.17, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,527.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for planning and organizingday-to-day activities in an easily understandable and efficient manner.More specifically, the invention relates to a method for planning andorganizing a schedule using a series of questionnaire modules toidentify and plan various types of activities and events. Suchactivities include day-to-day occurrences (i.e., meetings, due dates),recurring events (i.e., birthdays, anniversaries), and long-term plans(i.e., goals, vacations, project completion dates).

With the hectic lifestyles imposed by today's society, most people arefaced with the burden of having to divide the limited time they haveeach day to all the demands of work, family, community responsibility,professional development and recreation. People are burdened even morewhen the planning for how to divide their time includes having toidentify long-term goals or tasks that do not have set timetables orcompletion dates. Typically, people rely on conventional papercalendars, date books, reminder notes, etc. to help keep them aware oftheir daily schedules and time constraints. However, such manual systemsare limited to providing only the medium for displaying activitiesalready identified and planned. These systems lack any type of mechanismor guidance for efficiently identifying, planning and coordinatingevents for a user. They especially lack any mechanism or guidance forefficiently identifying, planning and coordinating long-term goals ortasks having no set timetables or completion dates. Even more, thesesystems lack any mechanism or guidance for efficiently identifying,planning and coordinating long-term goals or tasks that must be carriedover from week-to-week, month-to-month or even year-to-year; these aregoals or tasks that are carried over because they are either delayed orsimply recur on a regular basis.

Very often, people rely on the work of secretaries or administrativeassistants to plan and maintain their schedules. Unfortunately,secretaries and administrative assistants are themselves relying onconventional paper calendars, date books, and reminder notes.

With current computer technology, software packages for calendars, datebooks, “day planners,” etc. are readily available. However, like themanual systems, these software. packages are no more than computerizedversions of the conventional paper calendars, date books, and remindernotes. They too provide nothing more than a medium for displayingactivities already identified and planned, albeit more efficient andvisually pleasing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the problems and deficiencies in the prior art, a main objectof the present invention is to provide a system for identifying andefficiently monitoring one's personal and/or professional goals.

Specifically, a main object of the present invention therefore is toprovide a system for personalized and customized time management wherebya person may identify and efficiently monitor his/her personal and/orprofessional goals.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system of questionnairemodules for efficiently identifying, planning and coordinating not onlyvarious activities and events, but also long-term goals and tasks thathave no set timetables or completion dates or that must be carried overinto succeeding weeks, months or years.

Accordingly, a further object of the invention is to provide a systemfor generating a display of those identified activities, events,long-term goals and tasks in a calendar-style format.

An even further object of the invention is to provide a system forgenerating a display of the identified goals and tasks in a customizedtask list format.

An even further object of the invention is to provide a system forgenerating a display of identified activities, events, long-term goalsand tasks in both a calendar-style format and a customized task listformat, where the calendar and customized task lists may be generatedusing pertinent data from prior calendars and customized task lists.

Consequently, a further object of the invention is to provide a systemfor generating a display of identified activities, events, long-termgoals and tasks in both a calendar-style format and a customized tasklist format, where the calendar and customized task lists may begenerated periodically in a systematic manner.

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a method that comprises thesteps of providing at least one data module for generating data for aspecific topic area of events and tasks; prompting a user to providedata based on the specific topic area of the at least one data module;categorizing the data inputted by the user into appointment data andtask data; inputting the appointment data into a calendar framework;inputting the task data into a task list framework; and generating anoutput calendar and task list based on the calendar and task listframeworks.

In a second aspect, the invention is directed to a method that comprisesthe steps of providing a plurality of data module, each module forgenerating data for a specific category of events and tasks; prompting auser to select at least one of the plurality of data modules; promptingthe user to provide data based on the specific category of the at leastone selected data module; inputting from the user data in response tothe prompting; categorizing the data inputted by the user intoappointment data and task data; inputting the appointment data into acalendar framework; inputting the task data into a task list framework;selecting a format for an output calendar and task list to be generated;and generating the output calendar and task list based on the calendarand task list frameworks, and the selected format.

In a further aspect, the invention is directed to a system thatcomprises at least one data module for generating data for a specificcategory of events and tasks, means for inputting data from a user,means for processing the data inputted from the user for the datamodule, and means for generating an output calendar and task list. Thedata module includes means for prompting a user to provide data based onthe specific category of events and tasks to which the data module isdirected. The processing means includes means for categorizing the datainputted by the user into appointment data and task data, means forinputting the appointment data into a calendar framework, and means forinputting the task data into a task list framework.

In an even further aspect, the invention is directed to a system thatcomprises a plurality of data modules, each for generating data for aspecific category of events and tasks; means for inputting data from theuser including means for selecting at least one of the data modules,means for processing the data inputted from the user for the selecteddata module; and means for generating an output calendar and task list.Each data module includes means for prompting a user to provide databased on the specific category of the module. The processing meansincludes means for categorizing the data inputted by the user intoappointment data and task data, means for inputting the appointment datainto a calendar framework and means for inputting the task data into atask list framework.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is better understood by reading the following DetailedDescription of the Preferred Embodiments with reference to theaccompanying drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer tolike elements throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the system of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of the operation of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example monthly calendar and task list generatedby the system and operation of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example “day planner”-style calendar and task listgenerated by the system and operation of the invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an example yearly calendar and task list generated bythe system and operation of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In describing preferred embodiments of the present invention illustratedin the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake ofclarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to thespecific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that eachspecific element includes all technical equivalents which operate in asimilar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the system of the invention. Asshown, the time management system 1 of the invention incorporates aplurality of data modules 2 which provide the data for the system. Thedata from the modules 2 are then inputted into a data processingmechanism 3. The data processing mechanism 3 correlates the data into acalendar framework 4 and/or a task list framework 5. An output calendarand task list 6 customized to the module(s) applied, the data inputtedfor each module, and the type of calendar and task list desired by auser is generated by an output mechanism 7 accessed by the processingmechanism 3.

In at least a first embodiment, the system 1 of the invention isimplemented through a data processing unit such as a mainframe computer,a home computer, or a laptop computer.

In a second embodiment, the system 1 is implemented through a series ofhardcopy pages or panels, where each page or panel comprises one datamodule 2, the data processing mechanism 3, or portions of either a datamodule or the data processing mechanism.

Each data module 2 consists of a questionnaire-style system forcollecting data. Each module is designed to collect data for a specifictopic; questions in a particular module are therefore designed to elicitas much information as possible within that module's topic. Examples ofthe questionnaire systems of the data modules are as follows:

BIRTHDAYS Module:

-   -   Whose birthday do you wish to remember?    -   What is the date of the birthday?    -   Do you want a reminder set?    -   When do you want the reminder?    -   Do you want to send a card?    -   When do you want the card sent?    -   Do you want to call?    -   Do you need to get a birthday present?    -   When do want to go buy the present?    -   Does the present have to be delivered?    -   When does it have to be delivered?

VACATIONS Module:

-   -   What national holidays do you wish to input?    -   What holidays are observed by your office?    -   What holidays are observed by your spouse's office?    -   What holidays are observed by your children's schools?    -   When is your vacation scheduled?    -   Do you wish to make airline reservations?    -   By when should the reservations be made?    -   By when should the tickets be bought?    -   Do you wish to make hotel reservations?    -   By when should the hotel reservations be made?    -   By when should the hotel reservations be canceled if needed?    -   Should any services be canceled or shut off while on vacation?    -   When should each service be notified?    -   When should each service be restored?

CHILD CARE Module:

-   -   When should doctor's appointments be scheduled?    -   What type of doctor's appointments are being scheduled?    -   When should dentist's appointments be scheduled?    -   What type of dentist's appointments are being scheduled?    -   How far in advance should the appointments be made?    -   Do you want a reminder set?    -   How far in advance do you want the reminder?    -   Are there any special medications to take before each        appointment?    -   Are there any special instructions to follow before each        appointment?    -   When should the medication be taken?    -   When should the instructions be implemented?    -   When should school clothes be bought?    -   When should school supplies be bought?    -   When should the children be registered at their schools?    -   When should the children be registered for sports?    -   When should the children be registered for camp?    -   When should fall clothes be bought?    -   When should spring/summer clothes be bought?    -   When can the children be brought to the library?    -   When can the children be brought to the museum?    -   When can the children be brought to the zoo?    -   When can the children be brought to the movies?    -   When are the children going on field trips?    -   Which field trips are you accompanying them?    -   When are the children's sports events?    -   Which sports events are you attending or participating?    -   Do you wish reminders for their activities?    -   How far in advance do you want reminders?    -   How far in advance should you notify the office of the        activities in which you are participating?

HOLIDAYS Module:

-   -   What holidays are you celebrating?    -   When are you celebrating?    -   Do you have to make special preparations for the holidays?    -   When should you go to the store for any supplies?    -   When should you begin your special preparations?    -   To what celebrations and/or parties are you invited?    -   When are the celebrations and parties?    -   Do you need to make special arrangements in order to attend        those celebrations and parties?    -   Do you need to contact anyone to make special arrangements?    -   How far in advance of the celebrations or parties should you        contact people?

GOALS Module:

-   -   What are your goals for the next 12 months?    -   What are your goals for the next 2 years?    -   What are your goals for the next 5 years?    -   For each of your goals, what are the interim steps you want to        accomplish in order to eventually reach the final goal?    -   When do you expect to complete each of the interim steps?    -   When do you expect to reach each of your goals?

CARRY-OVER Module:

-   -   Are there any goals to carry over?    -   What goals must be carried over from prior weeks?    -   What goals must be carried over from prior months?    -   What goals must be carried over from prior years?    -   What goals must be carried over weekly ?    -   What goals must be carried over monthly?    -   What goals must be carried over yearly?    -   When should the carry-over goals be scheduled?    -   Are there any tasks to carry over?    -   What tasks must be carried over from prior weeks?    -   What tasks must be carried over from prior months?    -   What tasks must be carried over from prior years?    -   What tasks must be carried over weekly?    -   What tasks must be carried over monthly?    -   What tasks must be carried over yearly?    -   When should the carry-over tasks be scheduled?

Examples of other modules include children's activities, officeactivities, car maintenance, household jobs/maintenance, gardeningactivities, prayer/Bible study, menu/cooking tips and planning, serviceclub activities, community/volunteer activities, church/religiousactivities, and library/book reading tips.

As evident from the examples listed above, the data which the modules 2are intended to elicit may generally be categorized as, among otherthings, appointment data or task data. Appointment data is defined asdata describing events or planned activities that have a specific dateor dates attached to them. For example, birthdays, meetings, projectcompletion dates are appointment data. Task data is defined as datadescribing events and planned or intended activities that do not have aspecific date or dates associated with them.

In order to process different types of data, the system includes aprocess for identifying the data accordingly. There exist severaldifferent techniques for identifying the data that would be known to oneof ordinary skill in the art. For example, each question may bedesignated as an appointment or task-type question; therefore the datathat is inputted as their answers are categorized accordingly.Alternatively, each question may be formatted to accept answers that mayhave description components and date components inputted. When theprocessing mechanism 3 processes all the data, the answers that includeboth description and date components are categorized as appointmentdata; the answers that only have description components areautomatically categorized as task data.

In operation, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the system of the inventionbegins with Step 100 the selection of a data module 2 with which datawill be generated. With the selected data module 2, the user is thenprompted for data in Step 101 in a questionnaire-style format Inparticular, a question is presented and then the user inputs an answeror answers to the question as required (Steps 102–104).

If some questions are not applicable to the individual user, thosequestions may simply be ignored; the user may input data to indicatethat the question is not applicable (Steps 102–103). Such questions arenot used in the processing of all data modules 2 by the processingmechanism 3.

The inputting of answers (Step 104) to each of the questions may bedesigned to accept fill-in-the-blank style data inputs ormultiple-choice data inputs depending on which would be most appropriateto the question presented. The questions are presented and then answereduntil all questions in the module are answered (Steps 102–105).

When a data module 2 is completed, other data modules may then beselected (Step 106). If other data modules 2 are selected, Steps 102–105are repeated for each module.

When all selected data modules 2 are completed, all the data is inputtedinto the processing mechanism 3 (Step 107). In the processing mechanism3, all the data are categorized and divided into appointment data andtask data, as discussed above (Steps 108, 109 a, 109 b).

In the step of processing the data, the CARRY-OVER data module shownabove as an example is a particularly notable aspect of the invention.The use of the CARRY-OVER data module allows one to systematicallymonitor the progress and/or accomplishment of the tasks or goalsidentified in the module. The data for the tasks and goals for theCARRY-OVER module may be manually inputted by the user (i.e., the secondembodiment of the invention), or be derived from data in other datamodules.

The appointment data are inputted into the calendar framework 4 in theprocessing mechanism 3 (Step 110 a). In the first embodiment of theinvention, the framework 4 may be a select portion of memory reservedfor organizing and storing all data to be placed in a calendar. In thesecond embodiment, the framework 4 may be a blank calendar form.

The task data are inputted into the task list framework 5 in theprocessing mechanism 3 (Step 110 b). Similarly, the framework 5 may beanother select portion of memory reserved for organizing and storingdata to be placed in a task list as in the first embodiment, or a blanktask list form as in the second embodiment.

In the processing mechanism 3, the data from the data modules 2 may behandled one data module at a time, or all together. In processing thedata from the CARRY-OVER module, data from previously-generated calendarframeworks 4 or previously-generated task list frameworks 5 may beaccessed by the processing mechanism 3. In the first embodiment,previously-generated frameworks may be stored in another select portionof memory reserved for such long-term data. In the second embodiment,such frameworks may be in the form of filled-in calendar and/or tasklist forms from prior months or years. Using data from suchpreviously-generated frameworks, the processing mechanism 3 may “carryover” and incorporate any task or goals that the user identifies withcurrent calendar or task list frameworks. In at least the firstembodiment, the processing of the CARRY-OVER module may include theautomatic carrying over of all previous tasks and goals not indicated tobe accomplished or dropped, or the automatic carrying over of previoustasks and goals specified through the CARRY-OVER data module.

When the processing mechanism 4 completes the organizing of the datainto either the calendar framework 4 or the task list framework 5, theuser may select the type or types of output calendar and task list 6 tobe outputted (Step 111). When the selection is made, the output calendarand task list 6 is then generated by the output mechanism 7 (Step 112).

In the first embodiment, the output mechanism 7 for generating of theoutput calendar and task list 6 may be implemented through a printerconnected to the processing mechanism 3. In the second embodiment, theoutput calendar and task list 6 may be generated by filling in the blankcalendar and task list forms.

Several examples of output calendar and task lists that may be generatedare illustrated in FIGS. 3–5. Specifically, FIG. 3 shows a monthlycalendar and task list generated by the processing mechanism 3. FIG. 4shows a “day planner”-style calendar and task list, while FIG. 5illustrates a yearly calendar and task list.

Modifications and variations of the above-described embodiments of thepresent invention are possible, as appreciated by those skilled in theart in light of the above teachings. For example, one modification of atleast the first embodiment involves the use of artificial intelligenceto generate iterations of the questions in each data module according toprior user inputs. This would allow the invention to provide a widerfield of options for the user according to the user's individual needs.

It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appendedclaims and their equivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwisethan as specifically described.

1. A computer-implemented method for organizing and planning events,tasks and long-term goals, comprising the steps of: providing at leastone date module for generating data for a specific topic area; promptinga user to provide data based on said specific topic area of said atleast one data module; categorizing said data inputted by the user intoappointment data and task data; inputting said appointment data into acalendar framework; inputting said task data into a task list framework;and generating an output calendar and task list based on said calendarand task list frameworks.